Reports from Sydney suggest the Parramatta Eels are keen on signing rookie Warriors fullback Tui Lolohea as fullback for next season. With Roger Tuivasa-Sheck arriving at Mt Smart for 2016, Lolohea is certain to make a positional shift, and he has his eye on the No 6 jersey now held by Chad Townsend. The Eels are prepared to offer the 19-year-old a regular spot at the back but will have a hard time obtaining a release to prise him away from the Warriors.
Kata bounces back
The Warriors and Mystics cross-code basketball challenge raised eyebrows midweek when young centre Solomone Kata fell flat on his back after making a dunk. Two teammates hoisted Kata up towards the basketball hoop but his "lifters" neglected to help him back down and he lost balance and fell to the floor. Kata was unscathed and quickly got back to his feet as worried Warriors' staffers breathed a collective sigh of relief.
RTS raises the bar
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck continues to set new standards at fullback for the Sydney Roosters and some startling figures underline his outstanding contribution to the tricolours' attacking play. The Warriors' 2016 fullback leads the way in four categories, claiming the largest number of running metres with 2106m. Wests Tigers prop Aaron Woods is second best with 1646m. RTS also leads the hit ups/runs stats with 203, and tackle breaks with 49, and his value on kick-returns is obvious with 872m, well ahead of next-best Cowboys No 1 Lachlan Coote with 679m.
Hoffman's dog rings the bell
Back-rower Ryan Hoffman and his wife Melissa have been keeping social media followers entertained recently with some light-hearted domestic banter. Last month, Hoffman posted a picture of a note penned by Melissa, in which she called him a "bellend" for forgetting his packed lunch. Last week, after forgetting yet another food parcel, Hoffman posted a picture of a second note he found, this time written by the family dog, Cosby. "It seems to make the ol' ball and chain pretty cranky so you might want to ... you know ... take your lunch. Ever yours, Cosby," the note read.
Napa gets the picture
Queensland newbie Dylan Napa was hung out to dry by his Maroons teammates when he was called onstage during Tuesday's official team announcement. The Roosters' redhead was announced as the team's 18th man before senior players Greg Inglis and Justin Hodges conned him into posing front of stage for a photo that was never going to be taken. Napa quickly realised he'd been had and took his seat while his teammates fell about laughing.